Mar. 24, 2014

Written by

Mike Meyers

Special to the News

It was indeed disappointing to read the negativity in Delegate Robert Bloxom Jr.’s first report to his constituents. Rather than encouraging words about how he intends to work with those across the aisle to govern in the best interests of all the citizens, he immediately thought it necessary to blame the governor for the House of Delegate’s failure to compromise with the Senate and pass a budget.

The reason is the governor’s resolve that hundreds of thousands of uninsured Virginians be provided comprehensive health care benefits by enrolling them in an expanded Medicaid program, the cost of which will be totally paid by the Federal government for three years. Thereafter, the government will pay 90 percent of the costs.

Instead of explaining the pros and cons of this lifesaving program, he chooses to sow fear and hostility by referring to it as the “Obamacare-style Medicaid expansion.” After only eight days on the job, he is apparently now an expert who has extensively studied the problem. This is the “if Obama is for it I must be against it” governing philosophy so prevalent in the General Assembly.

As quoted in a Sunday paper, “Republicans, bent on partisan warfare, are so determined to hand President Obama and Mr. McAuliffe a defeat that they are playing chicken with the health care of ordinary Virginians.”

Let’s cut to the chase. The federal government has offered Virginia billions of dollars to expand Medicaid coverage for those living up to 138 percent of the Federal Poverty Line. If Virginia does not accept this money, it will be given to other states. If the funding is accepted, hundreds of thousands of Virginian’s will then be eligible to receive comprehensive health care. This includes many of those living on the Eastern Shore, many whom are gainfully employed.

Without this access to a health care system, thousands will die prematurely solely due to their inability to afford comprehensive health care and thousands of others will be forced into bankruptcy due to medical bills. These facts are indisputable, and the odds are that some of you who read this letter will suffer this fate.

(Page 2 of 3)

Bloxom and many others are opposed to the expansion because they believe that the federal government will renege on paying for it and Virginia will be stuck with the bill. Others in the General Assembly do not believe that it is the role of the federal government to provide health care benefits to the uninsured.

Bloxom states that “I also know that a large portion of our population could qualify for Medicaid, but with more recipients you need more caseworkers — not without expense to our local budget.” Therefore, he believes that a large portion of our population should be denied health care benefits, because it would create more jobs which somehow will be an expense to our local budget. Perhaps Bloxom would care to explain this hypothesis.

He states that without an honest and thorough discussion of the projected gains versus the risks and ramifications to the state budget, this Medicaid expansion should not be implemented. Well, we know the projected gains are that Medicaid expansion would provide coverage to at least 250,000 Virginians, create tens of thousands of jobs, give the state a huge economic boost and sustain hospitals whose financial health depends on the release of federal funding.

The alleged risk is that the federal government will renege on its commitment to fund this expansion and the costs will have to be borne by the Commonwealth. Only the most pessimistic believe that is a credible risk. But should that happen, what additional expense would Bloxom accept to save a life.

I once asked that question in a letter to the editor citing a hypothetical situation in which your child needed a kidney transplant to live. The government told you that they would fund the transplant, but your taxes would have to be raised. Which option would you choose? Let’s say that the child was your neighbor. What would be your choice? What if the patient was someone in your community who you didn’t know, how would you choose? The question is how much money is a life worth or is the answer dependent upon whose life we are talking about?

(Page 3 of 3)

Virginia legislators are offered a taxpayer-funded, low-premium, high-benefit state health care plan. The law says that only employees who work more than 30 hours a week are eligible to participate in the state’s health care plan, but legislators long ago amended the law to make them and their families eligible. I do not begrudge any legislator who takes advantage of this health care plan, but I do find them hypocritical in that they see no contradiction in participating in this taxpayer subsidized health care plan while denying such assess to those among us who cannot afford to purchase such coverage.

Many of those who would become eligible under this expanded Medicaid probably receive health care from the Eastern Shore Rural Health System, which often provides the care for little or no reimbursement.

Should these patients now be covered, ESRHS would be guaranteed reimbursement which would not only sustain the scope of services provided, but possibly allow for expanded services. Have you ever thought where the uninsured would go if we didn’t have the ESRHS?

The latest statistic is that 45,000 Americans will die each year as a direct result of not having access to health care. That is equal to the entire population of Accomack and Northampton counties. Both the president and governor should at least be given credit for recognizing that there is a problem and for trying to solve it.

Bloxom’s response is to disparage their efforts and bury his head in the sand hoping the problem will go away.

So I ask him why he believes that he and I, both of whom are eligible to receive government-subsidized health care, deserve the opportunity to live a longer, healthier life than those among us who cannot afford access to comprehensive health care.

For those who disagree with me, I look forward to your response. For those who agree, it is time to get off your duff and voice your opinion.